Late goals lead Marysville Pilchuck over rival

MARYSVILLE — Both Marysville high school girls soccer teams were set to play the biggest game in the short history of the rivalry between the schools.

And the game did not disappoint.

Marysville Pilchuck’s Brittany Anderson ended the game with an overtime exclamation point as the Tomahawks beat Marysville Getchell 2-1 in OT to make sure the young but rising Chargers program would have to wait before taking the reins of the rivalry.

The sophomore calmly collected a pass from freshman Jessica Moskowitz and teed up a shot from 35 yards out that sailed into the upper right corner of the goal before 45 seconds had ticked off the overtime clock. The Tomahawks rushed the field in a frenzy to celebrate the walk-off win on their rival’s home turf.

“It’s an amazing feeling” Anderson said. “It’s a pride thing.”

After the Chargers took the overtime kickoff, they lost possession and the ball ended up at the feet of Moskowitz.

“I knew we were doing too much just hitting the ball around,” Moskowitz said. “So I saw (Anderson) running up the side and I knew one quick little pass could set her up.”

Though there was a Getchell defender in the area, there was nothing she could do.

“I was waiting all game for that one … That came off my foot so perfect,” Anderson said.

The goal turned around what looked like would be the Tommies (4-0 league, 4-3 overall) first league loss after trailing for most of the game.

Trailing 1-0 with the Chargers camped out in their own end, it looked bleak for MP until senior captain Amanda Klep netted an unassisted goal from the top of the penalty box. Klep’s goal tied the score and boosted the Tommies spirit.

After the game Chargers coach Wayne Nash was proud of his team and didn’t fault the Chargers for the two special shots that found the net.

“Both goals … I don’t know that they could pull those off again. We had pressure on the ball and they pulled off quality shots,” Nash said.

He even praised freshman keeper Carley Wika for pitching a shutout minus the two long-range scores. Though Nash downplayed the significance of a strong wind that was at the Chargers’ back in the first half when they built a 1-0 edge and in their face for a 0-2 second half and overtime, Bartley thought it was a key on the night.

“We wanted the wind in the second half,” Bartley said. “Each team dominated when they had it at their back.

“This time of year you use your advantages and the wind is definitely one of them.”

At the outset, the teams began tentatively playing primarily between the penalty boxes and making no serious penetrations into the opponent’s end.

Midway though the first half, MG began to control the run off play, possessing the ball for much of the first 40 minutes on the Tomahawks’ side. However, save a few long-range shots over the crossbar from Kelsee Crenshaw, the MP goal was not really threatened.

But in the 36th minute the Tommies made a mistake, committing a foul in the box and Crenshaw stepped to the penalty spot. The senior forward casually laced a kick to the right of MP goalkeeper Emily Dunston and the Chargers took a 1-0 lead. But they couldn’t add on as Dunston had a stellar one-handed punch during stoppage time that stopped MG’s best chance in the second half.

It was just the second loss for Getchell (3-1, 5-2) on the season.

“It’s early in the season,” Nash said. “I knew this would be a hard-fought battle.

“We talked about in the pregame we wanted a hard-fought battle and we got what we wanted.”